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The Town Square
by trueblue5ft2 at 6/30/2009 1:49:24 PM


I have noticed that some of these smaller towns are now doing away with the town square. Figures, doesn't it? I remember my town square very well when I was little. The laundry mat, hardware store, best little diner in the county, barber shop with the red and white swirling tower in the front, the market with the wooden Indian standing guard by the door. All the festivities, from selling veggies to parades was held on the square.
I would go to the ice cream shop and Mr. Hedson would fix me a huge ice cream cone and put on those fancy sprinkles free of charge. I'd walk around the square, not a care in the world ( except my ice cream melting) and stick my nose to the big window to admire the Chatty doll dressed in a pretty dress.
The older ladies would sit on one side of the square on benches. Some knitting, most gossiping. They would talk about their husbands and kids and recipes. The older men had the other side of the square. I would listen to them talk about the lack of rain on their crops, gossiping ( yes, men do gossip!) and swapping knives. I noticed that one could swap his knife for another and within a few months would get his own knife back in a swap. I didn't see the sense in that but the men seemed to enjoy this game. Sometimes they would talk about their wives.. but in a low voice. Hummm.. afraid one of the women would overhear and come charging over with her purse swinging wildly?
I love the town square. There is such a one about 30 mins from here that reminds me alot of the one I grew to love as a kid. I often drive over just to sit at the diner and watch the people sitting on the benches.. the ladies still talking about their husbands and their husbands still swapping knives.


Comments

catsmam76
6/30/2009 2:22:12 PM

That is a most wondreful story and I am so happy you honered us by sharing, thank you

bigmamano7
6/30/2009 4:37:58 PM

Thanks for sharing the story, I really enjoyed reading it, keep up the good work, Vicki

jennyann71
6/30/2009 6:44:46 PM

We have a town square and my little town is less than 6 thousand people with a university here and a chicken plant {tyson} wal mart has moved a lot of the lil ole business on the out skirts but I love it here and I have lived many places in the wide world but the town square is what I like , thanks for sharing.

trueblue5ft2
6/30/2009 6:59:59 PM

It is a shame that the town squares of America has fallen apart instead of being built up to bring the community together

mmilesg
7/2/2009 1:50:29 PM

That was cool. I got like drew into that. Really good story and I have to say, I share your views. For the most part though, they aren't really towns anymore. They are becoming cities. And Cities become Metropolis' and so on. The City has to upgrade itself somehow. But, communities can still save their 'square' and dedicate some time for things that used to be. Every year in my city they have a square fair. It's fun and games for the kids. They have face painting and balloon popping all kinds of activities going on. Live bands, fair food and fun for everyone. As soon as the fair is over, the square is back to normal. Just another day in the middle of the city.

remodel
7/13/2009 1:39:28 PM

I was born and raised in a small town on Long Island,New York.It was ,and still is,a water front tourist town.The town I live in now,and for the last 31 years,is still kind of country.In September every year,we have the Lincoln County Apple Festival,Apple Queen and all.It's all about the apple's.The courthouse is in the middle of town,and most of the street's are blocked off for the Festival.Almost 80,000 people are expected this year.Not bad for a town of 7,000 and a county of about 40,000.But it too is getting citified.But I guess that's progress.I liked your story.

imjustavg
7/27/2009 6:40:08 AM

I remember our town square too. There was a drug store with the old style soda fountain, and we used to go in there and have them make us a thick malt! We experimented with different flavors until I had a root beer malt! Still love them but it is hard to find anymore. The town square seems to be replaced with the mall, and personally I dislike them. No more Saturday story fests with the old coggers of the town. Hell, it is getting harder and harder to find an old fashioned barber shop where you can go in on Saturday mornings and swap stories (BS).